Day #5

Kira, yes the food does sound better here, but I think my house is way better than other houses. I understand if you don't come, save for Vegas!!
So on Wednesday night, Sarah and I went to see my friend, Angel. Turns out after some time in the club, we notice attractive gentlemen and nothing else. I decided to ask Angel if it was a gay bar, and of course it was. haha, tooo funny!!! It was a lot of fun though. We had a few beers and put our new dance moves to the test.
Yesterday morning I signed up for classes. I wanted to do the TESL (teaching english as a second language) course because you get a certificate for the program at the end, but they only took the first 5 students. Instead, I am taking a community service class that is 4 credit hours. I am working in education. I will have 2 classes per week about theory, followed by 4 hours per week in the community. It sounds pretty fun, and I think it will look great on a resume. In addition, I have spanish class, progressive politics, volleyball, and history of the caribbean all in spanish. Then my 'Living and learning in the DR' for one credit hour and in English. Classes here are weird. They are only 4 days a week, which one would think they are block system of Monday/Wednesday classes and Tuesday/Thursday classes, but NOOO. Some classes are Monday at 10am-12, and then on Thursday from 3-5. My schedule is great so far (we'll see how it is when I actually start). My afternoons are free (except wednesday...I have volleyball from 4-6). All night classes have transportation provided home afterwards from the program for free. I only have one of those I think, because I was thinking it would be nice to be done early on Thursdays so I have more time to travel on the long weekends.
I am also lucky that my lunch periods are free, so I can eat with Sedenia all but one day of the week. Yesterday for lunch we had tacos! Hard and soft shells, ground beef, homemade pico de gallo (so good), salsa, and homemade guacamole. I definitely made kids jealous when I told them what I had.
Yesterday afternoon the group did a scavenger hunt to get us more acquainted with the town and familiar with the public transportation and getting around. We split up into groups, were given money, and sent on our way across a very busy street. We had to do random things like find the exchange rate for the day, find the post office and the cost of a stamp (5 pesos) or package, find this store that sells locally made things, find the clinic and see what they specialize in and if you can make an appointment with a doctor by phone, get costs of a haircut at this place ($3 usd), cost of manicures ($3 usd, $4 for acrylic), cost of massage for an hour ($8.50 usd), find western union and the other bank that you can get wire transfers from, go and get the schedule for the buses that take you to other cities, buy a lotto ticket, 4 bottles of water, pack of gum, find museums and parks, take conchos (cars that run routes like a bus, driver + 2 in front and 4 in the back), and lots of other things. I forgot my camera like a loser, but I have more time to get pics of everything. The concho driver had to use an open wire held up to his keys to make the horn beep. It's amazing how quickly you can adapt to the norm here. 4 people in the back of a tiny car became easier to figure out the 2nd and 3rd time. The first time we looked like retards, ha. The hunt took everyone about 3 hours. At the end, we met at a bar/restaurant and had a Presidente (great beer here). It was exhausting and hot, but so much fun to find everything on our own!! When we were done with the beer, we all loaded on the guagua and went to Lynne's (director) house for class. It was hot and too many people in there. When we finished class (talking about race and identity), she had a beautiful arrangement of fruit for us to eat. I got home around 8:15. I skyped for a bit, then went to bed.
Today, we had class at 8 until about 11:30. Now I don't have to be back until 3, which is nice because it's usually 2, and a bit of a rush after lunch. We had a FANTASTIC pasta salad today. It had noodles, corn, red bell pepper, and basil on top. We also had rice, beans, plantains (sweet and cooked...mmmm, delicious), and avocado. The dona (hired help) made me chinola (passion fruit) juice because I told her it was my favorite. She made me try some other juice yesterday, and I can't say I liked it. It was not all the way liquid but not smoothie substance so it was weird. I don't know what it was either.
The dona did my laundry yesterday, which was awesome having it done for me. She's really nice. She was telling me she has never used a computer before and asked me if it was hard to use. She always plays with my hair too, which is great.
Well, I think I am going to go lay down for a bit and do nothing for the first time this week (not even a week)!! We have a long night ahead of us and a 7am start for Santo Domingo tomorrow, followed by a long day. We get a tour of the colonial zone, where Colombus first landed in 1492 in the morning, then I signed up for the group that goes to the sugar cane plantation (as opposed to an art museum and sculpting/painting your own). I thought that I could look at art anywhere in the world, why not check out some sugar. Should be lots of fun, walking, and sun...more of a tan! My host mom told me a look almost dominican because i am the same color as her! She called me her 'dulce' this morning...My sweet in english.
I will talk to you all later, maybe sunday-my free day if I'm not too busy.